PROMOTED Dover Athletic will provide another stiff challenge for Grimsby Town – according to Paul Hurst.

The Whites have lost both of their opening matches at this level after winning the Conference South play-offs last time around.

But, despite their 1-0 home defeat to Halifax and 3-0 loss at Braintree, the Mariners boss, below, believes Athletic will be tough to break down at Blundell Park this afternoon.

He said: "They've lined up 3-5-2, but changed to 3-4-3 the other day, and are a big physical team with threats from set-plays again.

"They've earned the right to be here through winning in the play-offs season.

"But they haven't had the start they would like, and we know that they'll be up for this game and trying to get their first points of the season.

"A big part of winning promotion for them is coming to grounds like ours and playing against clubs like Grimsby Town.

"But we're all on an equal playing field, in the same league, and as we saw on Tuesday getting that ball in the net and getting over the finishing line in terms of winning games is not easy.

"So I expect another tough game and we have to be on our guard and up for the challenge again – as I thought we were against Nuneaton.

"It's just the final little bit of quality or luck needed to secure the points.

"They've got a long journey up and we'll aim to take advantage of that by being positive in our play."

THE ICE rink at Grimsby Leisure Centre will reopen next month – but users face an increase in prices to help pay for it.

A meltdown of the rink's ageing refrigeration system saw it close on June 6, much to the dismay of the hundreds of skaters who use it.

There were fears it would never reopen, but at a meeting of North East Lincolnshire Council's cabinet on July 22, members agreed to invest around £200,000 in a new temporary ice pad.

Specialist firm Ice Tech UK has been handed the contract to lay the pad, with work starting on Monday ahead of a reopening in the middle of September.

But users have been told they will face increased fees when the rink reopens following a review by Lincs Inspire as agreed by the council's cabinet.

Prices for disabled sessions have remained unchanged, with other individual sessions seeing price increases ranging from 70p for a junior casual skate, to an increase of £3 for a family skate from £15 to £18.

Councillor Mick Burnett, chairman of the Lincs Inspire Board, said: "We are looking forward to getting everyone back onto the ice and enjoying our facilities again.

"A price review to help offset the cost was unavoidable but we have done everything to keep prices affordable.

"We have benchmarked similar facilities and feel that the new price structure is reasonable and competitive taking into the account the running costs of the site.

"I know we have a much-loved ice-rink at Grimsby Leisure Centre but it was important that we took time to consider all available options to ensure that we get the best value for money.

"I am delighted that we could re-instate a temporary ice pad and thank users for their patience during this time and hope to see everyone back on the ice in the near future."

Councillor Chris Shaw, leader of the council and portfolio holder for assets, added: "We expect work to progress smoothly but must take into consideration that the installation of new facilities into an existing site is not straight forward and therefore we will be monitoring progress ahead of a much anticipated opening date."

During the cabinet meeting last month, members also voted to facilitate the development of a commercial ice facility at the current site, with the authority selling the land at a market value.

A report revealed that two organisations have expressed an interest in developing an ice rink based on the council providing land or buildings at market value.

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GRIMSBY Town must find a ruthless streak and replicate Luton Town's Conference-winning campaign.

Without a goal in their opening two games of the new season, the Mariners need to find their shooting boots fast if they are to challenge for top spot.

No one needs to tell Paul Hurst how critical that is, with six teams already holding a four-point advantage over his side ahead of this afternoon's clash with Dover (3pm).

But the Town boss draws comfort from his side's creative play during those opening two matches – and Luton Town's start to last year's title-winning season.

The Hatters won two of their nine matches, scoring just five times, before the floodgates opened and they went goal crazy – eventually winning the league by 19 points.

"The important thing for me – as we haven't taken any chances – is that we've kept two clean sheets and took something that we certainly deserved from both games," Hurst remarked.

"That's a positive, and the other fact is that we have created a couple of chances – more than a couple in truth.

"So it's not like we're not getting into areas and we look totally devoid of ideas – we've had chances.

"We hit the crossbar the other night against Nuneaton, and we're just waiting for that little bit of luck to turn.

"Added to that, we want that ruthless streak in us that we keep speaking about. That's far easier for me to talk about than it is to play out on the pitch, though."

Referring to John Still's men, who topped a century of goals last term, Hurst continued: "Look at Luton last season. I read an article not so long ago that looked at their start and not scoring goals.

"And that was with their players who went on to grab all the goals, in the team.

"I feel we'll get goals and do enough to win games and progress.

"Some of the favourites have laid down markers and got off to a positive start, but we're only two games in and it's very early."

A YOUNG mum of two says she is "petrified of eating" for fear of attracting the mice that are "running riot" in her house.

Cali Richards, 21, of Victor Street, Grimsby, says the property has been plagued by the rodents almost from the day she moved in back in February.

Despite laying traps and pellets, Cali says the mice continue to roam around the house.

She claims that housing association Longhurst & Havelok (L&H) Homes have "fobbed her off", despite promising to tackle the problem back in April.

However, L&H Homes insists that dealing with mice is the responsibility of tenants.

Cali says she is now considering moving into privately rented accommodation.

Cali, who lives in the property with her sons Colby, three, and Jayden, two, said: "It all started in March when I started seeing mice. I didn't know what to do so I rang Longhurst & Havelok up and they said they would get back to me.

"It came to April and I saw a few more. I thought this was getting stupid so I rang them up again and they said they would sort it out. Now they are telling me they can't do anything unless it's rats.

"Now you see them in the kitchen, the bathroom, the boys' bedroom and my bedroom. It's not just one.

"If you are sitting in the room quietly you can see them everywhere. There was one dead one in my boys' toys.

"When my kids are eating their dinner they are waiting for them to drop their food.

"It is getting too much for me. I'm on depression tablets now because of this. I'm petrified of eating because I think the mice will come.

"I have tried traps and pellets but nothing seems to work."

Cali believes the problem may originate from the derelict house next door, which L&H Homes says it does not own.

A spokeswoman for the housing association said: "We sympathise with Ms Richards' problem. We always take care of our properties according to agreed standards with a responsibility for maintenance shared between the resident and ourselves.

"In this instance we have recommended Ms Richards contacts a local pest control company since, in common with most landlords, dealing with mice is the responsibility of the resident."

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CAINE Winfarrah could follow his manager's lead and become an established attacking full-back.

Grimsby Town boss Paul Hurst made almost 500 appearances for Rotherham United – predominantly at left-back – having progressed through the Millers' Youth system as a winger.

And Winfarrah appears to be following a similar course after playing most of his junior football as a wideman, but filling in at the back superbly during Tuesday night's draw with Nuneaton.

The 18-year-old Grimsby lad replaced the injured Aswad Thomas after just 15 minutes at Blundell Park, and could retain his place against Dover this afternoon (3pm).

"It was certainly a positive from the other night – getting a young player out on the pitch and doing well for us," Hurst told the Telegraph.

"Caine can do both sides of the game, and that's another handy string to his bow.

"I can certainly relate to that. I went through the system as a left-winger up until getting into the Youth team, and then was thrown into the Rotherham first-team without doing too much work initially at left-back.

"I said I'd rather play than be sat on the bench, and that worked out quite well for me.

"It gives you an understanding of the different positions, and if Caine moves to left-back he should certainly know what to expect from the man in front of him and what he might get – and vice versa.

"It suited us the other night to get a naturally left-sided player on the pitch when Aswad limped off.

"We had quite a lot of possession, so having someone who is comfortable on the ball was ideal."

Hurst can also relate to Winfarrah's 'diminutive' stature, and the challenges that brings in defence.

He added: "Modern day full-backs are encouraged to bomb forward, and I certainly like mine to get forward where possible and then put quality into the box.

"That suits Caine down to the ground.

"I'm not really one to talk, but it's just the stature and the physical nature of defending – particularly at the back post area – that needs to develop.

"That's where a bit of positioning, experience and know-how comes in.

"But he's very tenacious, and he's got a real desire to win inside of him, which is fantastic."

A SERIAL burglar, who caused a four-hour roof-top stand-off with police when he targeted Grimsby's Yarborough Hotel, raided pubs and clubs in a desperate bid to steal money to pay off a drug debt, a court heard.

Gary Robinson, 39, of Fairmont Road, Grimsby, admitted two offences of burglary, another of attempted burglary and asked for five other burglaries to be considered.

Claire Holmes, prosecuting, told Grimsby Crown Court that Robinson forced a window at The Grosvenor in Humberston Road, Cleethorpes, on May 6. He forced a gaming machine open and stole money. He also took cash from a glass container.

Damage estimated at £500 was caused.

Robinson also raided the Yarborough Hotel in Bethlehem Street, Grimsby, on June 23.

Alarms sounded at 1.50am and he was spotted leaving from a side window.

He climbed on to a fire escape ladder and dropped a rucksack containing £285 in £1 coins, a plastic box and a screwdriver.

He got inside the hotel part of the pub and there was a lengthy stand-off before he eventually surrendered to police at about 5.45am after negotiators were called in.

Robinson also tried to burgle Cleethorpes Working Men's Club in the resort's St Peter's Avenue on January 19.

The other burglaries were at:

The Yarborough Hotel on April 19 and May 10.

The Imperial Hotel in Grimsby Road, Cleethorpes, on April 25.

Westlands Sports And Social Club in Responso Ave, Grimsby, on May 6.

The Lindum Club in Clee Road, Cleethorpes, on May 6.

Steven Freestone, mitigating, said Robinson was released from custody on February 14 and tried to tackle his drug problem and keep out of trouble.

He had a drug debt and was pursued and found by those who were owed money.

He committed the offences in a desperate bid to "get those people off his back" but now wanted to "straighten his life out" while he was in prison, said Mr Freestone.

Robinson was jailed for two years and three months.

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PETER Hickman's impressive debut at the 2014 Metzeler Ulster Grand Prix continued with a fifth-placed finish in today's UGP Superstock Race One.

The Louth speedster finished fifth on a damp morning in Northern Ireland, just behind Stephen Thompson in fourth.

Kirmington racer Guy Martin came in sixth, having offered a challenge to the leaders early on.

The winner, Dan Kneen completed his first international road race victory by only 0.001 of a second over Dean Harrison, with Bruce Anstey completing the podium.

Hickman tweeted: "Fifth for the stock race today! Happy enough! Conditions are not ideal to say the least."

Keep checking on grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/sport for updates on Hickman and Martin.

GRIMSBY Town have been held to a 1-1 draw by Dover Athletic at Blundell Park this afternoon.

Genuine chances have been few and far between for both sides, with Lenell John-Lewis perhaps coming the closest s when his looped header - which the outrushing keeper got a hand on - had to be hacked clear as it bounced towards goal.

The hosts did fashion a chance just after the half-hour mark when Stefan Payne got in behind Town's back three of Shaun Pearson, Toto Nsiala and Andrew Boyce, but dragged his effort wide of goal.

Town broke the deadlock 15 minutes from time when Paddy McLaughlin's volley deflected off sub Jon-Paul Pittman and over Mitch Walker.

But just when it looked as though Town would seal their first win of the season, The Whites hit back when Nannetti dribbled the length of the pitch before feeding Matt Locke to slide under James McKeown.

And the visitors could have won it when Andrew Boyce was adjudged to have hauled his man down in the box for a stoppage-time penalty. However, James McKeown sprang to his right to keep out Nannetti's spot-kick and save a point for Town.

For a timeline of the action, see below...

03 mins: Dover win a free-kick, five yards from the edge of Town's box, but Craig Disley heads clear.

04 mins: Scott Brown bounces a week effort into the arms of Mitch Walker for the game's first shot on target.

05 mins: CHANCE TOWN…Lenell John-Lewis latches on to a long ball and with the keeper coming off his line, tries to loop a header over him. However, the keeper just gets enough on it to stop it bouncing in and Dover clear off the line for a corner.

08 mins: Craig Disley climbs well to win a header back to James McKeown, however, the referee blows for a free-kick just outside the Town box. The ball hits the wall and Tyrone Sterling volleys the follow-up wide.

10 mins: John-Lewis holds up the ball well and lifts a ball over the back four to Disley, who, after advancing into the box, drills a volley well over the bar.

16 mins: Clay plays a clever one-two with John-Lewis on the edge of the box and slides in Disley, however, excellent defending from Richard Orlu sees out the danger.

21 mins: Town concede another free-kick, this time closer to the right-hand touchline. The ball is swung in and Boyce clears behind at the back post.

23 mins: Corner to Dover, Matt Locke swings the ball in and Shaun Pearson glances away under pressure from Nathan Elder.

27 mins: Free-kick to Town on the edge of the box after Connell is felled by Orlu. However, the frontman's effort hits the top of the wall and bounces into the arms of Walker.

29 mins: Disley picks up a lay-off from John-Lewis on the edge of the box and fires an effort straight at Walker.

31 mins: CHANCE DOVER…Ricky Modeste breaks from midfield and slides a ball in behind Boyce to set Stefan Payne through. However, with Elder waiting in the middle, he slides his effort across goal and past the far post.

33 mins: Scott Brown tries his luck from the edge of the box at the other end, but his effort flies high and wide of goal.

36 mins: A smart passing move down the right allows Craig Clay time and space to cross, however, his attempted cross to Disley is too close to the keeper.

37 mins: Dover win a corner at the other end, which Matt Locke takes short and eventually the set-piece comes to nothing.

39 mins: Magnay's clever turn in midfield frees space to find Clay on the right, but his cross is charged down for a corner. However, when that's cleared, Dover break at pace, and only an excellent tackle from the backtracking Nsiala prevents Payne from making it into Town's box.

HT Town 0 Dover 0

49 mins: Clay finds space in the middle and looks to slide in Disley, but the pass is hacked behind for a corner.

50 mins: A cross from Magnay has to be shuffled behind by Orlu, with Connell ready to pounce at the near post.

53 mins: OFF THE POST! Excellent cross-field ball from Brown is lifted back from the byline by Connell. John-Lewis gets across his man and hooks an effort off the face of the post.

53 mins: CHANCE TOWN…John-Lewis is in action again when he climbs highest and beats the keeper to a cross, but glances wide.

59 mins: CHANCE TOWN…Brown is set clear by Connell's through-ball and his pull back to the edge of the box finds McLaughlin, but the chance is snuffed out by a fine block.

61 mins: CHANCE DOVER…A free-kick flies across the face of goal, but no-one is there to prod home.

66 mins: Brown is booked for persistent fouling.

68 mins: Jon-Paul Pittman replaces Connell.

70 mins: CHANCE DOVER…After a long throw by Tom Wynter, the ball falls to Sean Raggett inside the box, and his volley is turned off the line by a Town defender.

73 mins: Faint appeals for a Town penalty…but not given.

75 mins: GOAL TOWN! After a Town attack, the ball bobbles to the edge of the box and McLaughlin tries his luck with a volley that deflects off Jon-Paul Pittman and bounces over a helpless Walker. Pittman tries to claim it, but Town's first goal of the season is credited to McLaughlin.

81 mins: Town break, but Pittman is flagged offside, when in fact, he looked on.

83 mins: Shaun Pearson is booked after conceding a soft free-kick on the edge of the box, but sub Chris Nannetti drives well over.

84 mins: Good link-up between John-Lewis and Pittman sees the latter break through on goal, his first effort is saved, but Pittman latches onto the rebound and lay back to one of the waiting Town players on the edge of the box, however it's scrambled clear.

86 mins: GOAL DOVER! And it's a goal of real quality. Nannetti carries the ball the length of the field before cutting inside and finding Matt Locke, who slides the ball under McKeown.

89 mins: McLaughlin finds himself in space on the left, but his flashed ball across the box goes unpunished.

90+1 mins: CHANCE TOWN: The ball is played into the feet of Pittman, whose clever overhead kick across the box just needs touching home, however, John-Lewis can't connect with his header not can the oncoming McLaughlin and the keeper claims.

90+2 mins: PENALTY TO DOVER! Boyce hauls down his man in the box and the referee points to the spot

90+3 mins: SAVED! Nannetti steps up and McKeown goes the right way to parry away.

FT Town 1 Dover 1

BRUCE Anstey pipped Kirmington racer Guy Martin to win the blue riband Superbike race at the Metzeler Ulster Grand Prix.

The 45-year-old New Zealander waited until the seventh and final lap to make a winning move, passing Tyco Suzuki's Martin to take the lead.

And Anstey, still the outright lap record holder at the world's fastest road race, never gave Martin an opportunity on the race to the line, winning by 0.260 seconds to complete a double following his win in the opening Supersport race.

Meanwhile, Louth rider Peter Hickman was fifth as his stock continues to rise following a sparkling debut season on the roads.  The 27-year-old was rewarded for his efforts in Northern Ireland with the Vincent Fusco best newcomer trophy, which he shared with James Cowton.

The owners of a house on Grimsby's Love Lane corner had a rude awakening this morning, after a car careered through the garden wall, across the drive and into their living room.

Witnesses said the incident, involving a black Honda Accord,at the roundabout on the junction of Humberston Road and Weelsby Road, had happened at just after 6am.

Bricks and debris are strewn outside the property and the railings from the garden wall have been destroyed.

It is understood the driver was arrested at the scene, although this has not yet been confirmed by Humberside Police.

See tomorrow's Grimsby Telegraph for more details.

CLEETHORPES Town have hit the airwaves this afternoon after being featured on Colin Murray's national TalkSport show for their FA Cup exploits.

Following their 4-1 victory over Borrowash Victoria in the extra preliminary round of the competition, the club's Craig Kendall was interviewed by Murray on this afternoon's show.

And the presenter has pledged to keep track of the Owls' progress in the famous competition.

See tomorrow's Grimsby Telegraph for a full report and pictures from the game.